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The Walking Dead: Last Day on Earth (2016)
A frustrating cliffhanger squanders the opportunity for a devastating payoff
Well-acted, sharply directed, and frustratingly manipulative, Last Day on Earth showcases everything right and wrong with this show. After all of this time, did the show really need another cliffhanger coming off the first half's Glenn fake-out? Even given Gimple and others' largely unsatisfactory explanation that this was meant to end one story, and the reveal next season will begin another, I can't see any value in it. Unlike some people online, I will take their word for it that this was their intention. However, that doesn't change the fact that the cliffhanger simply doesn't work dramatically.
What makes this all the more frustrating is that when this episode works, it works very well. The hopelessness that permeates nearly every scene in this episode not only accelerated itself after each encounter the group had with the Saviors, it quickly turned into fear. The story does an excellent job of slowly and completely breaking down Rick's feeling of invincibility. And every step of the way, Andrew Lincoln sells it. Visual-storytelling is one of this show's strong suits and this episode shows it. As the Savior barricades became and larger and more complex, the characters', and audiences', fear heightened as well.
All of this culminates in a terrifying spectacle in the woods. The Saviors whistling as they surrounded the group was genuinely terrifying. The palpable sense of dread throughout this episode was only solidified by the reveal of Negan. Jeffrey Dean Morgan is terrific in this episode. Menacing and charming at the same time, Dean Morgan's performance really showcases how someone like Negan could inspire people to follow him and others to fear him. Negan's imposing and admittedly terrifying presence heightened the dread even further. The rest of the cast also really delivers in the final standoff. I've mentioned Andrew Lincoln earlier. The blank expression really showcases a man completely out of his element and absolutely terrified. It's impressive acting, especially considering Dean Morgan's, by its very nature, domineering presence. With even less to do, the rest of the cast also sells the despair in a completely authentic fashion.
Also, I'd just like to give a brief shout out to Grand Theft Auto's Steven Ogg (Trevor). As one of Negan's lieutenants, his performance absolutely contributed to this episodes aura of horror.
The logical conclusion of this episode, and indeed this season, is that we, the audience, witness who is killed. Gimple even mentions that the group is the audience's conduit into the world of The Walking Dead. The emotional payoff of seeing someone you've come to know and care about is completely taken away by this cliffhanger. I'll still probably care in 6 months, but in that moment it could have been absolutely devastating, instead of mildly saddening. I hesitate to give this episode a 1 because I don't feel it ruins what came before it or what comes after. But, it certainly lessens the impact substantially and seemingly for an unsatisfying reason. Last Day on Earth frustrates because it shows why this show works so well, but squanders that good will in favor of cliffhanger that serves no real purpose. It also highlights the highs and lows of the series as a whole. At times, this show thrives in its exploration of characters and the hopeless situations they find themselves in. Yet, it also struggles consistently with pacing, this episode does meander, and manipulative emotional ploys.
+Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan
+Sense of hopelessness and dread
-Meandering pace
-Cliffhanger doesn't serve any real purpose
-Emotional stakes have no real payoff
5.0/10 mediocre
Daredevil: Penny and Dime (2016)
Jon Bernthal shines in the show's best episode to date.
Having finished the season, Penny and Dime serves as a quasi-finale for the self-contained Punisher arc that kicked this season off. And in this sense, the episode wraps up this arc perfectly, both from a character and thematic standpoint. Because ultimately, I feel, this show is at its very best, and that is a very high standard, when examining what makes these characters tick, particularly the vigilantes at its center in this season.
As others have noted, this episode plays on the ideological conflict at the center of this season: the question of lethal justice. And more so than previous installments in this season, which provided hints at Frank's past, this episode lays bare the reasons behind Frank's unyielding and deadly pursuit of justice. In fact, Frank's scene at the carousel where his family was murdered conveyed more than any of Karen's fact-finding could. As an aside, it's nice to see Karen take on an active role this season, assuming the mantle of dogged truth- seeker from Ben.
Start to finish, Jon Bernthal's performance was the highlight of this excellent season and this episode shines among them all. Bernthal portrays a character completely broken in spirit and, in this episode, in body as well. That torture scene was brutal, yet another example of this show being not afraid to push the boundaries regarding violence. As I said earlier, his silent scene at the carousel was immensely powerful. Bernthal portrays so much anguish and trauma just by the blank stare in his eyes. And that graveyard monologue? At this point, I think it kind of speaks for itself. Listening to him talk about his relationship with his family was truly heartbreaking and Bernthal sold every bit of that heartbreak with his performance.
This episode also marked the welcome return of Peter McRobbie's Father Lantom, whose conversations with Matt in Season 1 did so much to articulate the morality behind vigilantism.Ultimately, his advice to Matt rings true for Frank as well. So long as there is injustice in Hell's Kitchen and so long as Frank's family's killers run loose, both are doomed to guilt.
We also got to see Matt and Karen's relationship progress in this episode. Even though these two actually shared very few scenes together in Season 1, I feel this season has really sold me on the relationship. And I think Charlie Cox and Deborah Ann Woll's on- screen chemistry has a huge part to play in that department. By the time this episode ended, I was officially sold on their relationship. Of course, Elektra's reappearance at the end of the episode will have unforeseen consequences, something we'll see throughout the season. And Elektra's reappearance provoked plenty of curiosity given the ere of mystery she carries herself with.
From a purely technical standpoint, this episode shines as well. I've already mentioned Bernthal's performance, but I'll mention it again. In a show with an excellent cast, Bernthal's unforgettable performance in this episode stands out. He dominates every scene he is in, including opposite other great actors. Charlie Cox continues to do consistently great work, both as Daredevil and Matt Murdock. Peter McRobbie is always excellent as well. Tony Curran's Finn Cooley, the Irish mobster after Frank, also shines in his one- episode arc. His menacing and largely terrifying presence, i.e. the torture scene, is framed in the context of a very believable and compelling motive. That is, a desire to avenge his son's death at Frank's hand. Although, by the end of his arc, his brutal death, via shotgun blast to the face, at Frank's hand felt completely earned, a testament to Curran's performance.
Fight scenes are also a consistent high point of this show. Daredevil's breakout of Frank was so well-choreographed. And Daredevil preventing Frank from killing during the fight was another great way to highlight the dichotomy between the two.
Overall, Penny and Dime succeeds with flying colors by articulating the motivations behind Frank, adding much-needed and heart-wrenching context to his crusade for justice. That it features an absolutely unforgettable performance by Jon Bernthal only enhances its success.
+ Jon Bernthal's performance
+Deeper exploration of themes and characters
+ Emotional depth
+Elektra's first appearance and Father Lantom's return
10/10 masterpiece
Boardwalk Empire: Devil You Know (2014)
No One Goes Quietly
The marketing behind Boardwalk Empire's final season promised that "no one goes quietly". Devil You Know, the incredible ante ultimate episode of Boardwalk Empire, delivers on this promise and more. Despite arguably being the series' darkest and most dramatic episode since Season 2's To the Lost, this episode was filled with gallows humor. However, this humor never broke the palpable sense of tension present throughout the episode. Of course, the show ultimately parted ways with the beloved Nelson van Alden, also known as George Mueller, and Chalky White. Van Alden died as he lived. Crazily. It felt completely appropriate for Van Alden to go out in one of his characteristic blazes of religious fervor and wrath. And ultimately Chalky, who pretty much lost his purpose in life with his daughter's death, makes a deal with the devil, Narcisse, to save Daughter Maitland and his new daughter, causing his own death. The unceremonious manner of their deaths, much like their predecessors on this show, makes it all the more tragic and hard to accept. The symbolism of devils was prevalent in this episode, Capone to Van Alden, Narcisse to Chalky, and ultimately Nucky himself. This week's flashbacks reveal that Nucky's original sin, giving Gillian to The Commodore, was not the opportunistic move it once was believed to be. It's clear that Nucky groomed Gillian so she would draw The Commodore's eye. The direction in this episode by Jeremy Podeswa never ceases to ease the constant tension present throughout the episode. Nor do the phenomenal performances by Michael Shannon and Michael Kenneth Williams. There was no possible way in which they could have better captured their characters' arcs coming full circle in this episode. Steve Buscemi's Nucky, who is often easy to overlook in such a dynamic cast, also shone this week. The scene in the dive bar was some of his finest work not only on the show but I have ever seen from him. It perfectly encapsulates the anger, guilt, and frustration over his past actions and ultimately it seems to be for nothing. Nucky has reached the point Jimmy once warned him of. He hasn't run out of booze but more importantly he has run out of company. Chalky's final taunt to Narcisse rings true. No one is free in this series. All of the characters are beholden to something else, be it someone else, Narcisse to Luciano now, van Alden to Capone) or their own greed. And ultimately no one is free from death, as shown by the tragic but marvelously executed exits of Nelson van Alden and Chalky White. 9.7/10 incredible
The Last of Us (2013)
A masterpiece of a game
This review will contain major spoilers regarding the story of The Last of Us, so read at your own risk.
Naughty Dog's The Last of Us is set 20 years into the future, in the year 2033. An infectious fungal disease called cordyceps has ravaged the entire world, turning those infected by it into zombie like monsters. The game puts you into the shoes of Joel, a single father who lives with his daughter Sarah. The opening sequence of the game lets you play as Sarah as you see the epidemic play out. You are soon allowed to play as Joel as you try to carry Sarah to safety, with the help of Joel's brother Tommy. As Joel and Sarah escape a soldier shoots and kills Sarah. The opening sequence does a marvelous job of conveying the panic and fear caused by the epidemic and sets the tone for the game early.
20 years later the government still tries to maintain order within various quarantine zones. Joel works as a black market smuggler along with a woman named Tess. They meet with Marlene, the head of a resistance group called the "Fireflies". She tasks them to bring a 14 year old girl, Ellie, to other Fireflies outside the quarantine zone. Ellie is soon revealed to be immune to the virus. Things go awry, however, as the Fireflies have been killed as well as Tess. Joel reluctantly agrees to take Ellie out west to meet with Tommy, a former Firefly, who knows where the Fireflies searching for the cure are.
Joel and Ellie travel across the United States, encountering the horrors of the post-apocalyptic world on the way. The game does an excellent job of depicting the world in ruin. Everywhere you go you will see former settlements being reclaimed by nature. It is quite a sight to behold. Of course at the world's heart are its inhabitants. The game has an unforgettable cast of characters, each who perfectly convey what it is like to live in this world. The voice acting, particularly Troy Baker's Joel and Ashley Johnson's Ellie, is also top notch in this game. Joel and Ellie are both forced to kill the insatiable infected and humans.
Though many unforgettable characters are met throughout The Last of Us, the relationship between Joel and Ellie is at its heart. While Joel is hardened survivor, Ellie doesn't know much about the new world. The horrors of the world shape Ellie and turn into a hardened survivor in her own right, while still retaining the charm that makes her one of the most likable characters in any video game I've played. Their experiences together create a very strong bond. The game excels at getting you to genuinely care about these two characters. Whenever something heartbreaking happens to Joel and Ellie, I also felt that heartbreak. By the game's end, Joel has come to see Ellie as much his daughter as Sarah was. When Joel and Ellie reach the Fireflies, Joel learns that the operation the Fireflies intend to perform on Ellie to find the cure will kill her. Due to his genuine lover for Ellie, Joel kills countless Fireflies, including Marlene, to save Ellie and later lies to her about the events. Joel's actions are completely ambiguous in that the game makes me side with him because of how much I cared for Joel and Ellie but also makes me root against him because he's sacrificing mankind's last hope. The ending is certainly not a happy one and it caps off what very well may be the greatest story I have ever seen in a video game.
The story is certainly excellent, but the gameplay is equally up to the task. The combat is gruesome and fighting any enemy, human or infected, comes with a palpable sense of dread the likes of which I have never felt in a video game. Every time I had to fight, the game forced me to strategize how to do it or be killed. You are forced to manage your supplies intelligently, collecting and crafting a variety of weapons and tools throughout the journey.
Graphically the game also excels. The visuals of the world and of the characters are all masterfully done.
In conclusion The Last of Us is a masterpiece. It is an emotional roller coaster that will tear at any player's heart while also remaining an engaging game to play. Joel and Ellie are perfectly written and performed and I doubt I will ever care for any video game characters as much as I have with them.
10/10
The Walking Dead: This Sorrowful Life (2013)
A brilliant penultimate episode
This week The Walking Dead took the focus to Merle Dixon, the volatile, unpredictable and violent brother of fan favorite of Daryl Dixon. The episode opens with Rick discussing with Hershel and Daryl discussing handing over Michonne to The Governor in exchange for peace. Rick tells Merle of the plan, which eventually leads to Merle taking matters into his own hands and bringing Michonne to The Governor himself.
Before I get to Merle I'd like to comment on the events at the Prison. This was a very strong episode for Rick. We seem him faced with the moral dilemma of handing over Michonne to The Governor, knowing full well that she will be brutally tortured. Rick decides he can't go through with it. We also see him begin to close the chapter on Lori, having what is most likely his final vision of her. In the end, in a very emotionally powerful speech, Rick surrenders his total control over the group, telling them it is their choice if they stay to fight The Governor or run (I guess this means an end to the so called "Ricktatorship") We also saw Glenn propose to Maggie in another very emotional scene. It was genuinely touching to see them persevere through such hardship.
But now to Merle, who was the focus of the episode. Merle takes matters into his own hands and decides to bring Michonne to The Governor himself. In his conversations with both Daryl and Michonne in the episode we see that Merle doesn't want to be the evil guy. This all leads up to his final decision to let Michonne go, while he goes off on his own to confront The Governor. Merle manages to kill 8 of The Governor's men, including the unbelievably annoying Ben, before being forced into a fight with The Governor himself. In a particularly brutal fight, The Governor gains the upper hand and kills Merle. We then see Daryl find Merle as a walker and kill him, with great emotion.
Emotion wise this episode was very powerful. Seeing Daryl find his brother like the way he did was very sad. Merle went out like a hero, in an attempt to redeem himself in the eyes of his brother, making his death even more sad.
Michael Rooker proved in this episode how brilliant of an actor he is once again. In the scenes he had with Michonne and Daryl, Rooker brilliantly conveyed Merle's desire to redeem himself. Norman Reedus also delivered an incredible performance, brilliantly portraying the emotional devastation finding Merle had on Daryl. Andrew Lincoln, David Morrissey and Steven Yeun also delivered great performances in this episode. It has been enjoyable to watch Yeun get more and more impressive as the series goes on.
On a side note kudos to the writers for continuing to figure out brilliant things to do with the walkers. Merle's plan to use the walkers to cover his attack was absolutely genius. Michonne also had some impressive kills of walkers while tied up.
This Sorrowful Life served as an emotionally powerful and action packed penultimate episode for a an absolutely brilliant season of The Walking Dead. 9.7 out of 10
Mr. Popper's Penguins (2011)
This movie is an absolute masterpiece!
I watched Mr. Popper's Penguins not thinking it would be that good. However after watching it for the 100th time I realized that not only is this the best movie about penguins, or the best movie starring Jim Carrey it is without a doubt the greatest film of all time. The fact that this movie was snubbed for the Academy Award for Best Picture is arguably the greatest disgrace in film history. Jim Carrey stars as Mr. Popper, an uptight businessman who becomes lighthearted with the help of his pet penguins. Carrey clearly deserved the Academy Award for Best Actor in this movie. He brilliantly delivers the spectacularly written poop jokes in this movie to the point where I nearly died from laughter. The penguins namely Captain, Nimrod, Stinky, Lovey, Loudy and Bitey deliver incredible performances (Nimrod clearly deserved an Academy Award for his inspiring performance as a mentally handicapped penguin). Don't listen to any of the foolish reviews of this movie, it is an incredible comedy/drama that focuses how the human condition can be helped by penguins. 10 out of 10.
Jack and Jill (2011)
Made me want to puke.
Jack and Jill is yet another entry into Adam Sandler's long list of terrible movies. I must say I found Sandler to be funny in Happy Gilmore, but other that that most of his movies are ridiculous. I thought that Grown Ups was terrible but it doesn't even come close to this awful movie. Sometimes you watch a terrible movie and it's hilariously bad even laugh out loud funny because of how bad it is. This is not the case with Jack and Jill, it's without a doubt the worst movie I have seen in a long time. The movie stars Adam Sandler as twins Jack and Jill. I really don't know which performance I hated more. Adam Sandler acting as himself,unfunny as ever, or Adam Sandler acting obnoxious dressed in drag. Either way you look at it this movie is terrible. I couldn't even figure out what exactly the point of this movie even was. I guess to show how you should overcome how much you hate your annoying sibling or whatever. It doesn't matter because this movie is terrible in every single capacity. No jokes even spur a slight chuckle, in fact if anything the jokes in this movie made me angry because of how bad they were. The movie features supporting roles from Katie Holmes and Al Pacino. I can't help but feel bad for them for being in this movie but surprisingly enough Pacino seems to put effort into his role. But it doesn't matter because the movie is terrible. The movie also features David Spade in arguably the worst acting performance I have seen. He has a fight with Adam Sandler or something. I don't even know I wasn't paying much attention to the movie at this point. Everything bad you have heard about this movie is true. It's not funny, the acting terrible and the plot is not interesting. If I could I would give it a - 1 trillion out of 10. I hope Sandler stops making movies for his own sake.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
A very horrible movie.
I consider this the worst movie of all time. I find it disgusting and should not be considered an Indiana Jones movie. What were they thinking when they made this horrible movie. Shia LaBouef plays Indina Jones' son. What? The acting was atrocious for the most part except for Harrison Ford. What is with these annoying cheap Russian accents. The Germans in the original didn't have them that bad. I am pretty sure you wouldn't survive a nuclear blast if you jumped in a refrigerator. Not to mention he banged around in it for five minutes so I am pretty sure his bones would be broken. The people in the temple made no sense at all. How long had they been there and who were they. It didn't seem necessary to the movie's already horrible plot. Aliens might not have been as bad as what it turned out to be. Inter dimensional beings. What the hell is that. Once I saw the CGI gopher I knew this movie was going to be horrible. What was with these giant ants? Once again didn't seem necessary. The character Mac didn't make any sense at all. He was constantly helping Indy then helping the Russians then helping Indy. It was so stupid. Overall I couldn't find anything positive about this movie.